# US 7,466,447 B2 · Color management system that enables dynamic balancing of performance with flexibility > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,466,447 B2 - Document ID: US7466447B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/683,153 - Filed: 2003-10-14 - Published: 2005-04-14 - Granted: 2008-12-16 - Earliest claimed: 2003-10-14 - Assignees: Microsoft Corporation - Inventors: Michael Stokes; Adrian Secchia; Cyra Richardson; Kerry Hammil - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7466447B2 ## CPC - H04N 1/46: Colour picture communication systems - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract A method and system for allowing a computer system platform the ability to intervene in the content workflow and perform additional color management based upon the content state and any color management policies in place is provided. Profile data from a source is converted to an intermediate color space upon entry into the platform at a choke point. In response to the current color content, profile data, and/or policy controls of the platform, color management input can be managed to change color management data immediately, change color management data at a later point, and/or ignore color management data. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for processing a color object in a workflow, the method comprising steps of: receiving, through an operation choke point, a color object obtained from a device, the operation choke point being independent of a device driver coupled to the device, and the operation choke point serving as a contact point for a type of operation related to the color object; and upon receiving the color object, determining where to convert the color object in a workflow. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of converting the color object responsive to the determining step. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of converting the color object to an unbounded intermediate color space. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, further comprising steps of: receiving a command to perform a color management function; and performing the color management function. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the color management function mixes color management input from at least one of: a standard color space, ICC profiles, and non-ICC profiles. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the color management function operates in response to at least one of: a user request, an application program, and a policy. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the policy defines color management to be performed on the color object based upon at least one of: a user, an operation, a type of device, a device, a manufacturer of a device, a model of a device, and a calibration of a model of a device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the command is a request to monitor the color management workflow. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the command is a request to intervene in the color management workflow. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said step of determining includes determining that the color object is to be converted in a destination device, said method further comprising a step of deferring conversion of the color object to the destination device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein said step of deferring conversion of the color object to the destination device includes a step of creating a hybrid workflow. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the type of operation comprises one of: a print operation, a display operation, a capture operation, a load operation, a save operation, a copy operation, or a paste operation. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the operation choke point is configured to operate with legacy equipment. ### Claim 14 A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method for processing a color object in a workflow, the method comprising steps of: receiving, through an operation choke point, a color object obtained from a device, the operation choke point being independent of a device driver coupled to the device, and the operation choke point serving as a contact point for an operation related to the color object, the operation having an associated application program interface (API) operable to facilitate the color object entering the operation choke point; and upon the color object entering the operation choke point, determining where to convert the color object in a workflow. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The computer-readable medium of claim 14, further comprising steps of: converting to an intermediate color space; receiving a command to perform a color management function; and performing the color management function. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the command is a request to intervene in the workflow. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein determining comprises determining to convert the color object in a destination device, and further comprising a step of creating a hybrid workflow to defer conversion of the color object to the destination device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the operation comprises one of: a print operation choke point, a display operation choke point, a capture operation choke point, a load operation choke point, a save operation choke point, a copy operation choke point, and a paste operation choke point.